NC State University, Foreign Languages and Literatures
TH 1:05-2:20 in HA 353
Instructor: Dr. Helga G. Braunbeck
Office: Room 224, 1911 Building
Office Hours: T 3-3:45, W 11-11:45, and
by appointment
Phone: 515-9320 / Fax: 515-6981 / E-mail: Helga_Braunbeck@ncsu.edu
Homepage: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~hgb
German Section Homepage: http://sasw.chass.ncsu.edu/fl/german.htm
Foreign Languages and Literatures Homepage: http://sasw.chass.ncsu.edu/fl/
Catalog Description
Basic German grammar, with special attention to characteristics of
formal expository style, and illustrative readings. Study of extracts from
scholarly publications in students’ areas of research. Prepares students
to take the graduate foreign language certification exam.
Course Objectives
Successful students will:
• recall the meaning of basic, high frequency vocabulary and idiomatic
expressions of the German language
• recognize the linguistic structures of the German language
• translate, with the help of a dictionary, a scholarly German text
in their area of research, with reasonable accuracy, into English
This course trains you in the reading proficiency of German so you can meet your department’s graduate foreign language requirement. We will systematically cover the grammatical material in the text, read and translate excerpts from scholarly publications, take practice exams, and take an end of the semester certification exam.
Required Materials
Hubert Jannach, German for Reading Knowledge (Heinle and Heinle, 1997)
A good, fair-sized German-English dictionary
Recommended Materials
New College German Dictionary (Langenscheidt)
Online dictionaries: http://dict.leo.org, and http://www.linguadict.de;
there are others on the web (Google will turn them up), but these may be
the best or biggest ones.
Henry Strutz, 501 German Verbs
Cecile Zorach and Charlotte Melin, English Grammar for Students of
German (The Oiivia and Hill Press)
Gerda Dippmann and Johanna Watzinger-Tharp, A Practical Review of German
Grammar (Prentice Hall)
Attendance
Attendance is required. Absences in excess of two are inadvisable.
The key to success is consistency, so keep up with the assignments and
attend class.
For more information on attendance regulations consult http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/academic_regulations/attend/reg.htm.
Class Work and Homework
Class time will be spent clarifying the grammatical material, doing
reinforcement exercises, and translating reading passages. Assignments
are to be prepared before coming to class for the day shown. We will also
work with texts you find yourself in your specific field. The weekly take-home
tests are supposed to be an assessment tool for yourself. Each covers two
chapters. You will also get some longer take-home practice translations.
Evaluation and Grading
You should register for the course as “audit” or “credit only.”
Each of the 14 take-home tests and each of the 6 practice translations
will count 5%. The main purpose of grades in this course is for feedback
about your progress and for determining if you get credit (if you have
registered for “credit only”).
For information on the NC State grading policy, consult http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/academic_regulations/grading/reg.htm.
At the end of the course we will take the certification exam. Graduate
certification is given on passing the exam, not passing the course. I will
work with your individual abilities and difficulties to help you master
the material.
Students with Disabilities
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable
disabilities. You need to register with Disability Services for Students
at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. For more information
consult
http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/offices/affirm_action/dss/.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to work within the letter and spirit of the NC
State University Code of Student Conduct. For more information please consult
http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/ncsulegal/41.03-codeof.htm.
Academic integrity extends to all work done in a course, including
homework, class work, take-home tests and exams. The use of internet translating
programs is forbidden; these programs will hinder your progress more than
help it. If you have any questions about what is permitted or forbidden,
e.g. with regard to getting help from tutors or friends, please discuss
it with me. Use of internet dictionaries is fine and may be quite helpful.
The Certification Exam
The certification exam consists of translating: (1) sentences containing
fundamental grammatical structures, verb tenses, idiomatic expressions,
and vocabulary; (2) a portion of a scholarly article in your general research
area. You are not expected to do a polished translation, but to demonstrate
reading proficiency through reasonably accomplished translation. You may
use dictionaries.
Near the end of the semester, we will determine whether you are ready to take the certification exam at the scheduled exam time, in our regular classroom. The exam generally takes between 2-3 hours. After you have taken the exam, I will notify you within 2/3 days only if you have not passed the exam, in which case there will be a consultation, the setting up of a plan of study, and a new exam date. Otherwise, I will send a letter of certification to the necessary offices, also within 2/3 days, and your record will be adjusted accordingly.
Tue, Aug. 20 Introduction; Kapitel 1
Th, Aug. 22 Kapitel 2
Tue, Aug. 27 Test 1-2 is due; Kapitel 3
Th, Aug. 29 Kapitel 4
Tue, Sep. 3 Test 3-4 is due; Kapitel 5
Th, Sep. 5 Wiederholung 1 (p. 50 – 52) as take home practice translation
is due; Kapitel 6
Tue, Sep. 10 Test 5-6 is due; Kapitel 7
Th, Sep. 12 Kapitel 8
Tue, Sep. 17 Test 7-8 is due; Kapitel 9
Th, Sep. 19 Kapitel 10
Tue, Sep. 24 Test 9-10 is due; Kapitel 11
Th, Sep. 26 Wiederholung 2 (p. 95 – 97) as take home practice translation
is due; Kapitel 12
Tue, Oct. 1 Test 11-12 is due; Kapitel 13
Th, Oct. 3 Kapitel 14
Tue, Oct. 8 Test 13-14 is due; Kapitel 15
Th, Oct. 10 Wiederholung 3 (p. 139 – 141) as take home practice translation
is due; Kapitel 16
Tue, Oct. 15 Fall Break
Th, Oct. 17 Test 15-16 is due; Kapitel 17
Tue, Oct. 22 Kapitel 18
Th, Oct. 24 Test 17-18 is due; Kapitel 19
Tue, Oct. 29 Kapitel 20
Th, Oct. 31 Test 19-20 is due; Kapitel 21
Tue, Nov. 5 Wiederholung 4 (p. 182 – 184) or other text as take home
practice translation is due; Kapitel 22
Th, Nov. 7 Test 21-22 is due; Kapitel 23
Tue, Nov. 12 Kapitel 24
Th, Nov. 14 Test 23-24 is due; Kapitel 25
Tue, Nov. 19 Wiederholung 5 (p. 219 – 221) or other text as take home
practice translation is due; Kapitel 26
Th, Nov. 21 Test 25-26 is due; Kapitel 27
Tue, Nov. 26 Kapitel 28
Th, Nov. 28 Thanksgiving
Tue, Dec. 3 Test 27-28 is due; Kapitel 29
Th, Dec. 5 Wiederholung 6 (p. 258 – 260) or other text as take home
practice translation is due; Kapitel 30
Tue, Dec. 10 1-4 p.m. Certification Exam